Non Jovi: Goodbye Boss

As a third generation Yankee fan I say goodbye to the Boss.  No, not Bruce, but George M Steinbrenner III.

As a kid growing up in NJ I couldn't understand why the Yankees couldn't make it to the pennant, the only time they made it during the 80's was 1981 and they lost the world series to the Dodgers.  In 1986 I had to suffer as all Yankees fans did with the Red Sox/Mets match up (I mean who do you root for?  It's a lose lose situation right there).  I couldn't understand why those drug addicted Mets had world series rings, and my Hero Don Mattingly went without.  Donnie Baseball didn't even make the pennant until 95 when they lost to the Mariners, and in 96 they brought in Tino Martinez.  And Donnie baseball rode off into the sunset.

I just hated him (Steinbrenner), he brought in all these players and none of them won a world championship.

In 1992 I moved to Florida, into the Tampa Bay area.

Over the last 18 years he has given so many things to this community.  When you get hospitals, Stadiums and schools named after you, you're normally a president or someone famous for being a leader or being courageous.  But Mr Steinbrenner did these things for whatever reason, guilt, joy, many of these things were done anonymously.  It was always fascinating to me meet people who had interactions with him over the years, they always told stories about his anger and he would 'fire' everyone (especially people who worked at the Radisson on Rocky Point) and hire them back moments later.  No one ever said that he was a bad person but they always talked about him with respect.  He appreciated hard work.

Over the last 14 years the Yankees have been awe inspiring to watch.  There have been so many highs as well as so many lows.  There is not a better team in sports, period.  Over the last 37 years he put the pride back in pinstripes. 

Goodbye Mr Steinbrenner, we will miss your spirit, your compassion, but most of all your love for the New York Yankees.